The commissioners informed her of the decision of the council that she was no longer to bear the title of queen.  It stood, they said, neither with the laws of God nor man, nor with the king’s honour, to have two queens named within the realm; and in fact, there was but one queen, the king’s lawful wife, to whom he was now married.

She replied shortly that she was the king’s lawful queen, and none other.

There was little hope in her manner that anything which could be said would move her; but her visitors were ordered to try her to the uttermost.

The king, they continued, was surprised that she could be so disobedient; and not only that she was disobedient herself, but that she allowed and encouraged her servants in the same conduct.

She was ready to obey the king; she answered, when she could do so without disobeying God; but she could not damn her soul even for him.  Her servants, she said, must do the best they could; they were standing round her as she was speaking; and she turned to them with an apology, and a hope that they would pardon her.  She would hinder her cause, she said; and put her soul in danger, if on their account she were to relinquish her name, and she could not do it.

The deputation next attempted her on her worldly side.  If she would obey, they informed her that she would be allowed not only her jointure as Princess Dowager and her own private fortune, but all the settlements which had been made upon her on her marriage with the king.

She “passed not upon possessions, in regard of this matter,” she replied.  It touched her conscience, and no worldly considerations were of the slightest moment.

In disobeying the king, they said; seeing that she was none other than his subject, she might give cause for dissension and disturbance; and she might lose the favour of the people.

She “trusted not,” she replied—­she “never minded it, nor would she”—­she “desired only to save her right; and if she should lose the favour of the people in defending that right, yet she trusted to go to heaven cum fama et infamia.”

Promises and persuasions being unavailing, they tried threats.  She was told that if she persisted in so obstinate a course, the king would be obliged to make known to the world the offers which he had made to her, and the ill reception which they had met with—­and then he would perhaps withdraw those offers, and conceive some evil opinions of high displeasure towards her.

She answered that there was no manner of offers neither of lands nor goods that she had respect unto in comparison of her cause—­and as to the loss of the king’s affection, she trusted to God, to whom she would daily pray for him.

The learned council might as well have reasoned with the winds; or threatened the waves of the sea.  But they were not yet weary, and their next effort was as foolish as it was ungenerous.  They suggested, “that if she did reserve the name of queen, it was thought that she would do it of a vain desire and appetite of glory; and further, she might be an occasion that the king would withdraw his love from her most dear daughter the Lady Princess, which should chiefly move her, if none other cause did.”